Endurance athlete chases $1 million bonus prize

Date created : 06/12/2018 - 23:20

British champion obstacle course racer Jonathan Albon competes in the Spartan World Championship in California in September 2018British champion obstacle course racer Jonathan Albon competes in the Spartan World Championship in California in September 2018SPARTAN RACE/AFP

ADVERTISING

London (AFP)

British endurance athlete Jonathan Albon could be $1 million richer by Sunday -- all he has to do is win a 24-hour race, cover at least 100 miles and conquer dozens of obstacles.

The 29-year-old, who lives in Norway, has a shot at the huge cash bonus after winning the Spartan World Championship in the United States and the Spartan Trifecta World Championship in Greece.

That leaves the Spartan Ultra World Championship in Iceland, which is a 24-hour multiple-lap event. The winner is the athlete who runs the most complete laps within the time limit.

To be eligible for the Spartan $1 million Trifecta, the winner must also complete 100 miles (161 kilometres) or more.

In order to qualify to race in wintry Iceland, Albon was required to complete a 50-kilometre Spartan Ultra in less than 10 hours -- and he opted to do that in Malaysia last weekend before dashing back to Europe.

Albon is now about to swap the "sauna-like heat" of Malaysia for potentially freezing conditions in Iceland.

He is not so concerned about that -- he is allowed to come in briefly after each lap to stock up on equipment and food -- but the performance of last year's winner does not fill him with confidence.